Electric-lamp guard



Dec. 18, 1928.

R. w. RE EVES ELECTRIC LAMP GUARD Filed Aug; 11, 1927 INVENTOR. 17.14] R at we 0 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

. untrue s'r-A ROBERT w. Runvns, or NEWPORT, nonn IsLAivn.

ELECTRIC-LAMP GUARD.

Application filed August 11, 13.27. Eterial 230, 212,314.

This invention relates to guards forelectric lamps such as are used for trouble lights or lamps it is necessary or desirable'that the lamp bulb shall be protected'from shocks and jars.

One or the'objects of the invention is to provide a lamp protector 0r guard. which is formed of rubber or rubber composition,and which is so formed that the small end of the guard will fit around the end of any lamp socket so that it may be easily put upon a lamp socket or removed therefrom, and which is formed to provide a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the lamp, these T ribs being connected attheir outer-ends by an integral rubber portion or band atthe large end of thegua-rd which surrounds the large end of the lamp.

A further object isto provide a guard of this character which, mediately assume its former shape and usefulness, which will eliminate the trouble incident in trying to clamp a wire guard to a lamp socket, and which, sulating material, will not by any chance cause a short circuit where the lamp is being used in working around electric machinery. My invention is illustrated in the accornpanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric lamp with my improved guard applied thereto, V A Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the guard, the lamp being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is an end view of the guard and lamp.

Referring to this drawing, it will be seen that the guard or protector 10 is of rubber or rubber composition which is somewhat elastic in its nature. The guard 10 iscircular in cross section and has a length such as to extend from the lamp socket A to the end or beyond the end of the bulb B. The guard is formed to provide a relatively deep,circumferential'band 11 from which extend the l0ngitudinally extending strips 12 which are formed integrally with a circumferentially extending band 13 at the large end of the guard; The small end'oii the guard, that is the band 11, is thickened at its extreme end, as at 1 1, and this thickened portion defines an opening 15 which is adapted to be fitted over and clamp upon the lamp socket A. Exteriorly this thickened portion 15 is formed with an integral bead 16 and from this bead used around-machineryor wherever if distorted, will imbeing formed of inbe made extend integral ribs 17 which are integral with the band 11 and the strips 12. V

shown inFigure 2, the guardhas a relatively smalldiameter at its rear end so that the internal diameterof the guard is slightly smaller than the external diameter of an electriclamp socket, and from this small end the guard extends gradually outward with a gradually increasing diameter to the point 18, and from thence to the end of the gulard the guard is approximately cylindri A guard made in accordance with this in: vention is capable of being very readily 6X? panded over an electric lamp socket A and then the inherent resilience of the. guard will cause it to close tight against the electric lamp socket and clamp thereon, as shown in Figure 1. The integral band'13 act'sto hold the strips 12 in proper'position and forms a retainer for the rubber ribs, which ribs give the lamp its protection: These ribs define openings 19 through which the light of the lamp may be seen.

The advantages of this type of guard over the ordinary wire guard commonly found on trouble lamps and portable lamps used by workmen is that if the lamp guard be dis-'- prevents jars or shocks being transmitted with full forceto the bulb and its eliminates the great trouble in trying to clamp a wire guard to a lamp socket. A wire guard must to fit the lamp socket and fit closely thereon or the wire guard will always be loose. This difficulty is not met with in the rubber guard which I have devised for the reason that there is enough contraction at the small end of the'rubber to cause it'to contract strongly upon any ordinary lamp socket, while at the same time permitting ity to be expanded by the fingers so as to he slipped over the lamp socket. Myimproved guard is consequently always tight uponthe lamp socket, whereas a wire guardcan never be kept tight. By forming this guard of rubber or rubber composition, safety is assured, and if the operator is working on electric machinery all chance of ashort circuit is removed, as the rubber willact as an insulator, whereas where a wlre guard 1S provided the w1re may very readllycause a short circuit between two separated parts.

While I' have illustrated a particular form of my device, I do not Wish to be limited to this form as it is obvious that it might be constructed in a different manner without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A guard for electric lamps formed of elastic insulating material, the guard being formed to provide a bulb-enclosing portion and the rear end portion having an aperture to receive an electric lamp socket, the Wall of the aperture being elastic so as to be expanded over and to elastically clamp upon the socket.

2. A guard for electric lamps formed of rubber, the guard being formed to provide a rear end circumferentially extending portion, a front end circumferentially extending portion, and longitudinally extending strips connecting the two portions, the rear end portion having an opening adapted. to receive the socket of an electric lamp, the wall of the opening being elastic and elastically clamping upon the socket.

.3. A guard for electric lamps formed of rubber, the guard being formed to provide a rear end circumferentially extending portion, a front end circumferentially extending portion, and longitudinally extending strips connecting the two portions, the rear end portion having an opening adapted to receive the socket of an electric lamp, the Wall of the opening being elastic and elastically clamping upon the socket, the guard being formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs integral. with the strips and rear band and projecting above the strips.

4;. A guard for electric lamps formed of rubber, the guard being approximately conical in form to provide a relatively small rear end and a relatively large open front end, the rear end being formed by a relatively large Wall'having an aperture through it adapted to receive an electric lamp socket and grip thereon, said Wall being formed with an outwardly projecting bead, the material of the guard being formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending openings separated by integral strips, and ribs integral With the guard and extending forward from said beads toward the large end of the guard and merging into said strips.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

ROBERT W. REEVES. 

